Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

I love it and it was my favorite new fragrance in 2009.
I found it to be an incredible mix of tobacco, vanilla and wood.
That being said I would still caution you against buying it blind as others on Basenotes have reported it smelling "plasticky" on them.
Everyone has a different way of interacting with fragrances and I am never a proponent of buying blind.
If you don't have a L'Artisan counter to test at close to you I recommend using Luckyscent and getting a sample from them before laying out the big cash.
Better to know you like something before spending the money.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

Be careful with this one. I was sure I was going to love this. L'artisan is one of my favorite houses, Duchafour is one of my favorite perfumers, vanilla and tobacco and two of my favorite notes; what's not to love here?! Wrong! I was actually this close to purchasing it blind, but when I traveled abroad I tried it, and thank God I didn't purchase it. It was sickly sweet and smelt like rotten bananas and milk chocolate in a very, very dense way. By far, my biggest disappointment of 2009. Others love it though.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

HV reminded me a little of sticking my nose in a bag of vanilla pipe tobacco; I, too, found it to be way too sweet. I didn't get any woods, and the tobacco was not nearly as prominent as I had hoped. There seemed to be a ratio that was off, like instead of being a vanilla+tobacco scent, it was a vanilla scent with tobacco way in the background.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

This one was too sweet for me also. For a great natural vanilla and tobacco scent try Don Corleone from profumo.ithttp://profumo.it/perfume/prodotto.asp?pid=5099
It is expensive and not as long lasting as others but he only uses natural ingredients.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

I advocate being patient (and I have no room to talk) Get two samples from The Perfumed Court: Tom Ford's Tobacco Vanille and the L'Artisan. Get them both in 2.5 or 5 ml to give them both a couple of test wears. I was really impressed with Tobacco Vanille in a sample wear of it.

Don't know you well enough Grifter to make many guesses about what you'd like. The Ford is probably more masculine and likely has better longevity. Don't know if those are issues for you.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

When I tested it for a first time, I hated it. Havana Vanille smelled strange. It wasn't straight smoky vanille like Guerlain Vanille, or smooth smoothly sweet with a hint of tobacco like Tom Ford Vanille. L'Artisan Vanille was diffirent. But after a few tests, I start loving this Vanille. Even so much more than Tom Ford Vanille ( which I feel so cloying after 5 or 6 wears ) and Guerlain Vanille ( it is too expensive ). L'Artisan Vanille is rich, complex, exotic, and very enjoyable. It is not all about cloying sweet vanille like Tom Ford Vanille, or smoky vanille like Guerlain. It is not "in your face" like them. It is very gentle and stays so long on the skin... Boozy rum, fresh tobacco leaves, creamy vanille, complex woody notes...very beautiful and full of surprises once you wear.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

Originally Posted by chocolateguy

When I tested it for a first time, I hated it. Havana Vanille smelled strange. It wasn't straight smoky vanille like Guerlain Vanille, or smooth smoothly sweet with a hint of tobacco like Tom Ford Vanille. L'Artisan Vanille was diffirent. But after a few tests, I start loving this Vanille. Even so much more than Tom Ford Vanille ( which I feel so cloying after 5 or 6 wears ) and Guerlain Vanille ( it is too expensive ). L'Artisan Vanille is rich, complex, exotic, envery enjoyable. It is not all about cloying sweet vanille like Tom Ford Vanille, or smoky vanille like Guerlain. It is not "in your face" like them. It is very gentle and stays so long on the skin... Boozy rum, fresh tobacco leaves, creamy vanille, complex woody notes...very beautiful and full of surprises once you wear.

Wow - this is exactly what happened to me. I can't wait to sample it again.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

It's good! Get it! I have a decant of it that I was fortunate enough to recieve from a fellow basenoter. I like to wear this one when I think I'm dressing sharp. lol It gives me quite the confidence boost. This one feels like it's hugging you in a warm upscale vanilla and spice blanket. I really like it, and is definetely on my short vanilla list.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

I really wanted to like this, but the fragrance has a strange herbal/plastic top note that quiets down but persists on throughout. I just tried Tobacco Vanille again, and I noticed that this strange note is also in there, maybe it's the tobacco? But the good thing about TV is that it's a lot less noticeable, but the vanilla is a little too sweet for me. Definitely, if you're looking for a boozy vanilla Spiritueus Double Vanille is the way to go.

Re: L' Artisans Havana Vanilla

Originally Posted by limaaa

Isn't Spiritueus Double Vanille a woman's scent?

It's not anymore feminine than the other vanilla fragrances. In fact, since it's less sweet than Havana Vanille or Tobacco Vanille, I would be more comfortable wearing SDV than the other fragrances. Love the boozy note...